Box Score: CSULA 66, Coyotes 60

SAN BERNARDINO -- Cal State San Bernardino trailed nearly the entire second half in Tuesday night's CCAA Tournament first-round game and was dealt a 66-60 defeat at the hands of sixth-seed Cal State L.A. at Coussoulis Arena.

Junior Theron Laudermill led the Coyotes, now 17-10 overall, with 10 points and 11 rebounds for his third double-double of the season, but no other Coyote scored more than nine.

The first round match-up against the Golden Eagles proved to be a difficult one for the Coyotes. The two teams split their regular-season games with each winning at home. At Cal State L.A., the Coyotes owned a 10-point lead at halftime and lost 59-57. In the teams' meeting at CSUSB in February, the Coyotes held off CSULA down the stretch to win 75-71.

This was a night where CSULA played tough inside and made defensive stops at critical times. The Coyotes shot 20 of 62 from the field and were outscored at the free throw line, 24-14.

CSULA had four players in double figures and was led by Chris Robinson's 19 points.

The game was tied just once in the second half when Coyotes senior Grants Huff buried a 3-pointer that put the score 47-47 with 9:56 left.

But the Golden Eagles answered right back on a 7-0 run to lead 54-47 with 6:39 left.

CSUSB made another charge, this time with a free throw from Huffs, a 3-pointer from Nate Roth and a free throw from Kwame Alexander to pull within two at 54-52 with 4:27 remaining.

But over the next three minutes, David Norris hit a jumper and two free throws and CSULA led 58-53 with 1:33 to go.

The Golden Eagles hit eight straight free throws in the final 33 seconds to earn the upset win.

CSULA will now face Humboldt State at 3 p.m. Friday in the CCAA semifinals at Cal State East Bay.

The Coyotes will now have to await the NCAA Tournament announcement on Sunday at www.ncaasports.com.